David Price has teamed up with former undisputed world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis as he bids to get his career back on track following defeat to Tony Thompson.

Price, 29, was stunned by the veteran American in Liverpool in February, suffering his first professional defeat by way of a second-round knockout.

And he has sought the advice of Lewis who rebuilt his own career following defeats to first Oliver McCall and then Hasim Rahman.

Blow: David Price lost to Tony Thompson in February but has the chance for revenge in July

Price starts out on the road to redemption in Canada next week when he will train under the watchful eye of Lewis ahead of his rematch with Thompson at the Liverpool Echo Arena on July 6.

'This is a fantastic opportunity to be able to work with one of the
greatest heavyweights of all time and I'm sure his knowledge will prove
to be invaluable,' Price said.

Comeback: Lennox Lewis was knocked out by Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman but avenged both losses

Lewis has been retired for almost 10 years, bowing out on a high with victory over Vitali Klitschko.

He avenged both defeats on his record and was also successful against the likes of Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.

'David is a dedicated fighter,; he said. 'He takes his training seriously and is single minded in wanting to avenge that defeat and as a fighter I understand that and want to help him towards his goal.'

Main man: Lewis was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, winning 41 of his 44 contests

Beware the Hayemaker! Boxing star posts fearsome photo from the gym as he prepares for comeback fight

By
Mike Dawes

PUBLISHED:

16:42 GMT, 8 April 2013

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UPDATED:

16:42 GMT, 8 April 2013

It is only two days to go until David Haye announces his next heavyweight opponent — but he is already looking the part.

The former heavyweight champion is fighting again on June 29 in Manchester and posted a picture on his twitter feed of him in fighting fit shape.

He has previously revealed he began plotting his ring return when alone with his thoughts in the jungle on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

Hayemaker: There's no denying David Haye is taking his comeback seriously after this photo posted on twitter

The fighter’s trainer and manager Adam Booth said earlier this month he was in discussions with five heavyweights ranked within the world’s top 15 – four of which remain unbeaten – in his pursuit of an opponent for Haye’s comeback fight on June 29 as the former champion bids to gain mandatory-challenger status to either Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko.

Since his fifth-round knockout victory over Dereck Chisora in July, Haye has lived a life far from that of the customary prizefighter over a period in which his celebrity status significantly grew but insists it was this that persuaded him he wanted to return to fight for the status of world heavyweight champion.

Timer: Haye knocked out Dereck Chisora in the fifth round of his last fight

Top of the tree: Haye wants to prove that he is still the best heavyweight in the country

Ready and waiting: Haye has been promoting his next fight recently which will take place on June 29

Meanwhile, Tony Bellew’s rematch with Isaac Chilemba has been added to the undercard of Carl Froch’s super-middleweight unification clash with Mikkel Kessler at the O2 Arena on May 25.

Bellew and Chilemba fought out a lifeless draw in Liverpool on March 30 in their final eliminator for a shot at the WBC light-heavyweight title with both claiming they should have been given the verdict.

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn insists the successful fighter will still be in line to meet Chad Dawson if the American successfully defends his WBC belt against Adonis Stevenson on June 8.

Back in the ring: England's Tony Bellew and Isaac Chilemba of South Africa will fight again on the under-card of the re-match between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler

as he beat British rival Dereck Chisora at West Ham's Upton Park stadium, with his belief at the time that the success would lead to a fight with Vitali for the WBC belt.

Return: David Haye announced that he will fight in Manchester on June 29

That was not to be but Haye is now ready to go in search of the mandatory challenger tag by beating an opponent in June.

Haye's trainer, Adam Booth, has confirmed talks are ongoing with five fighters, all ranked in the top 15, none of whom are British. The Klitschko brothers are not among the five though.

'I believe they have their strategy for this year and it doesn't involve me. Instead of sitting around and waiting another year I want to get back in there,' Haye said.

'Why wait around and stagnate when you don't have to I'm happy to be back – a year is long enough time to wait for someone to phone you. I want that heavyweight title back and I will get it.

Back again: Haye will fight in Manchester, scene of his victory over Audley Harrison in 2010

'I was hoping Vitali would be a man of his word and fight me after I did what he and his team wanted me to do and beat Dereck Chisora.

'We have been sitting around, waiting for the phone to ring, but that hasn't happened. We have sent some e-mails but they have fallen on deaf ears.'

Haye felt he was in line for a title fight against Vitali late last year after his display in beating Chisora in the fifth-round of their fight in impressive style, but it did not come to fruition with Manuel Charr selected ahead of Haye.

Knockout: Haye was last in the ring when he stopped Dereck Chisora in the fifth round at Upton Park

'He said, 'You beat Dereck Chisora and I will fight the winner', you can look back on the footage. I knew it would be a good fight [with Chisora] and the British public wanted to see it. Dereck is a tough guy and has the style that can give many people a few problems.

'A lot of people actually tipped Dereck to beat me, winning on points was never an option and I said that to anyone who would listen.'

Haye maintains he will not fight purely for money and is more interested in collecting titles, claiming a spell out of the ring which saw him make an appearance in the ITV reality TV show 'I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here' has seen his fan-base swell.

Jungle fever: Haye made an appearance on I'm A Celebrity… Get me out of here!

'The fans all over the world, wherever I travel to, people want to see me back in the ring and ask me when they can see me. Well, on June 29 they will be able to see me do it,' Haye said.

'I want to get out there and put on a good show – 100 to 200 times a day people are walking up to me in the street.

'Strangely a lot of them are people who have never actually seen me fight live and I have reached out to a different demographic now after doing the TV show last year. It is a nice opportunity for me to do what I do best and knock someone out for the millions of my fans around the world.

Brawl: Haye and Chisora came to blows in Munich before settling their differences in the ring

'I'm in it for the right reasons – I don't have to box. That is the difference between myself and a lot of the other heavyweights out there who have to box to pay the bills.

'I'm in it because I genuinely want to do it, I don't need to do it. I want to win that title back and I'm willing to put my body through the pain of a hard training camp to secure this fight.'

Defeat: Haye lost to Wladimir Klitschko in Hamburg but blamed the result on a broken toe (below)

Chisora hopes for ring return in March – as long as he receives licence from British board

By
Martin Domin

PUBLISHED:

12:50 GMT, 14 January 2013

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UPDATED:

13:52 GMT, 14 January 2013

Heavyweight bad boy Dereck Chisora will return to the ring at Wembley Arena on March 16 – if he is cleared to fight by the British Boxing Board of Control.

The Londoner was stripped of his licence last year after a shameful brawl with David Haye at a post-fight press conference in Munich in February following his defeat by WBC world champion Vitali Klitschko.

The two protagonists settled their differences in the ring at Upton Park in July under the auspices of the Luxembourg Boxing Federation when Haye stopped the 29-year-old in the fifth round.

Back in the ring: Dereck Chisora hopes to be fighting again in March

Chisora, who has taken anger management classes in a bid to convince the Board he is fit to hold a licence, expects to hear shortly whether he will be cleared to fight on the same card as world champions Ricky Burns and Nathan Cleverly and Commonwealth champion George Groves.

'I've been keeping quite busy,' he said. 'I've been in the gym and I've been running.'

Chisora will hope that victory over 10 rounds in March – against an opponent yet to be named – will propel him back among the contenders for a world title or set him up to challenge David Price for his British and Commonwealth belts.

The undefeated Liverpudlian is open to the idea of fighting Chisora but must first face American Tony Thompson on home soil on February 23 at the Echo Arena.

Vitali Klitschko has never had a defining fight… he needs me, taunts rival David Haye in his latest bid to secure world title clash

By
Declan Warrington

PUBLISHED:

14:45 GMT, 9 January 2013

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UPDATED:

15:31 GMT, 9 January 2013

David Haye has again underlined his desire to face Vitali Klitschko in 2013 by taunting the WBC heavyweight champion with the claim that he is yet to have a 'flagship' fight.

As has been customary throughout his career, Haye appears to believe in trying to talk his way into a fight with the Ukrainian – the younger brother of Wladimir, who beat the Londoner on points in July 2011 – by insisting that the elder Klitschko needs to fight to boost his own credibility.

'There’s nobody else in heavyweight division that can give RTL (the TV company that has a four-year deal with Klitschkos) the viewing figures,' Haye told The Telegraph.

Good to talk: David Haye chats to Carol Vorderman (L) and Sally Lindsay on daytime TV show Loose Women

'I wished Vitali a happy new year and congratulated him on all his political bits and bobs and whatever he’s doing over there in the Ukrainian parliament.

'But the bottom line is that he’s a fighter and hopefully he wants the fight the fans want.

'He’s never had that flagship fight, that one mega-fight that people will always remember him for. The only one people remember is the fight with Lennox Lewis, in which he came off second best,' Haye added of the 2003 fight in which Klitschko was stopped in the sixth round because of a significant cut over his left eye.

Brutal: The biggest fight of Klitschko's career, against Lennox Lewis, ended in defeat due to a cut over his eye

'He’s a proud man, and I’m sure he wants that big victory that he’s never had. He’s fought a lot of people, but for 10 years he’s been a huge favourite.

'I guarantee the smart money would be on someone like myself with power and speed and youth beating him, and he is going to have to pull off the upset. Whether he wants to put himself in that position remains to be seen.'

Since losing to Wladimir, Haye's only fight came against Dereck Chisora at Upton Park when he stopped his opponent in five rounds. Chisora had gone the distance with Vitali only months earlier.

Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko have delivered their Christmas message but gave no hints as to their plans for 2013.

The heavyweight brothers have enjoyed another dominant year, winning five world title fights between them.

But negotiations between Vitali and former champion David Haye appear no closer to being finalised.

The elder brother's future in the ring remains uncertain after he was elected into the Ukrainian parliament.

Haye meanwhile has reiterated his desire to fight Vitali but will retire for a second time if the contract remains unsigned.

'It’s no great secret that I want to knock out Vitali Klitschko in 2013,' he told the Evening Standard.

'The contract for the fight has been agreed and is there ready to sign. Were it simply up to me, I’d be training to fight right now. Instead, I’m away from the gym and left to play the waiting game.

Desire: David Haye (right) wants to fight Vitali Klitschko next year

'Nobody seems to know if Vitali wants to set foot again in the ring, let alone face somebody as dangerous as me. What I do know is that by this time next year I will either be a retired former world heavyweight champ or the new world heavyweight champ.

'The prospect of retirement doesn’t scare me. I’ve always planned on retiring at a young age, with my faculties intact. Also, unlike some of my peers, I have plenty to get on with away from boxing.'

Wladimir, who beat Haye in Hamburg last year, has been ordered to face regular WBA champion Alexander Povetkin.

Main men: The Klitschko brothers have cleaned up the heavyweight divisions

'We are very excited that Povetkin will be Klitschko's next opponent,' said Povetkin's promoter Kalle Sauerland.

'We consider Wladimir Klitschko to be a great champion but we also consider Alexander Povetkin to be a very serious challenger,

'[This] will turn out to be a real treat for boxing fans all over the world.'

The trans-Atlantic expansion of Golden Boy Promotions has been confirmed here in Los Angeles by chief executive Richard Schaefer.

He outlined his plans to British Board chairman Charles Giles and general secretary Robert Smith, who flew to LA for Amir Khan's resurrection fight on Saturday night.

Since Schaefer is a Swiss passport holder who is preparing to open offices in London and is already in negotiation with British television companies, they see no basis for objection.

Golden Boy are now the world's biggest promoters, staging more than 120 shows a year in the US and Mexico.

Schaefer says: 'There is fantastic opportunity for us in the UK. I have always said the British boxing fans are the most passionate in the world.

'Over here some people could hardly believe that Ricky Hatton sold out 20,000 tickets for his comeback fight before he even named his opponent.

'I love London and I will be spending a lot more time over there in the future.

'I am promising to help your Olympians maximise their potential and develop into big, successful stars. For that, I will be taking fighters under my wing personally for the first time.'

Schaefer is not only in discussion with the traditional UK television channels, such as Sky.

Intriguingly, he has sparked interest with British Telecom, who are rapidly becoming major players in the sports market, and is also exploring the possibility of an American network becoming the host broadcaster.

While he realises the impact this will have on the British boxing establishment, Schaefer does not expect the rivalry with Golden Boy's counterparts across the Pond to be bitter.

The initial concept is for no more than four shows a year and he says: 'I get on well with the British promoters. I have a good relationship with Mick Hennessy (who promotes Tyson Fury) and Frank Maloney (David Price).

'We have just enjoyed a positive negotiation with Eddie Hearn for Kell Brook to challenge Devon Alexander for his world title over here. Not only is Frank Warren an outstanding promoter but we are very good friends.

On the cards: Anthony Joshua (right) is believed to be in talks with De La Hoya's company

'I won't be trying to steal their fighters. But this is a competitive business so when any boxers become free agents at the end of their contracts then of course we will expect to have talk with those we like.'

Golden Boy's $200million-a-year turnover will lend massive weight to that bargaining power, as it appears to be doing with London's Olympic super-heavyweight champion Joshua and others of his team.

Several Team GB boxers have held back from committing their futures until their amateur funding runs out in March and the first Golden Boy promotion in Britain is not scheduled until the second quarter of the year.

Others under review are youngsters who just missed out on the Games 'but who have the ability and charisma we need.'

Schaefer is also tempting them all with the prospect of early US exposure on promotions over here.

Medal winner: Anthony Ogogo (left) shone for Team GB at the Olympics

In England, the 02 Arena in London tops the preferred list of venues. To fill that, Golden Boy will top the bills with big international names in world title fights.

For example, former champion Sugar Shane Mosley is planning to come out of retirement to challenge Paulie Malignaggi.

Says Schaefer: 'While that is coming too early for our first UK promotion that is the kind of fight which could take place over there.

'Adrien Broner is a dynamic younger champion who would relish the chance to do his thing in England.'

Nor is it beyond possibility that Floyd Mayweather – who appreciates his large fan base in Britain and often talks of how he would love to fight in London – could make the trip in 2014.

Schaefer said: 'We will promote in the UK with same quality and style we do in the USA.'

The gauntlet has been thrown down.

Tyson still all man

Mike Tyson has been forced to deny a spoof report which went viral in Asia – where it was taken as fact – that he has undergone a successful sex change operation to become a woman.

Just as well for the author that he did not say it to the face of the youngest ever world heavyweight champion.

He may have mellowed into a showman now but there was a glint of the old Iron Mike when he lisped: 'I never lose touch with my masculinity.'

Still the man: Mike Tyson had to deny spoof reports he had undergone a sex change

Pacquiao v Mayweather still on the cards

The mega-bucks fight the world has been waiting so long to see may yet happen, despite Manny Pacquiao's brutal knockout by Juan Manuel Marquez.

Floyd Mayweather is scheduled to make his post-prison comeback in Las Vegas on May 4.

While that will probably be against Robert Guerrero, the Money Man has told the PacMan: 'Ease back in with an interim fight of your own to make sure there are no after-effects from that KO and we might look at my next date, in September.'

Chance: Floyd Mayweather could still fight Manny Pacquiao in a big-money bout

Munroe calls time

Rendall Munroe – who went from a dustbin round in Leicester to a world title fight in Tokyo – has retired following his super-bantamweight defeat by the fast-rising Scott Quigg.

He leaves the ring with his dignity and our admiration for a most worthy career.

Merchant hangs up his microphone

The doyen of American TV boxing analysts called his last fight on Saturday night, Nonito Donaire's victory over Jorge Arce in Houston.

Larry Merchant has hung up the microphone. He is 81 yet only last year, in a feisty post-fight interview in the ring, he famously told an angry Floyd Mayweather: 'I wish I was 30 years younger so I could kick your ass.'

I am doubly glad now that he and I had a long, reminiscent chat in Las Vegas on the eve of Pacquiao-Marquez a week earlier.

Thanks for the memories and all the wisdom, Larry. We will miss you at ringside.

Klitschko shows Wach no mercy as he hammers Pole to retain heavyweight titles

By
Mike Dawes

PUBLISHED:

23:18 GMT, 10 November 2012

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UPDATED:

23:47 GMT, 10 November 2012

Wladimir Klitschko retained his IBF, IBO, WBO and WBA super world heavyweight titles, although he survived a scare before recording a unanimous points decision over the durable Mariusz Wach in Hamburg.

Klitschko, fighting for the first time without the late revered trainer Manny Steward in his corner, landed at will for nearly five rounds but a huge right hand at the end of the fifth sent the champion reeling into the ropes.

The Ukrainian managed to survive and showed no lasting effects in the sixth before brutally stepping up his punishment of the previously unbeaten Wach.

The scores of 120-107, 120-107 and
119-109 reflected the near-complete domination Klitschko enjoyed in his
13th world title defence.

Tonight marked the first time Klitschko was fighting someone taller than him in the city where he made his professional debut.

However, the real talking point was
how he would fare in his first outing since the passing of Steward, who
died last month aged 68, with aspiring heavyweight contender Johnathon
Banks being appointed as Klitschko's new trainer – for the time being.

Klitschko showed his determination to
honour Steward tonight by landing several one-two combinations in the
first, with the pattern continuing in the second.

However, Wach attempted to spoil his opponent's work by tying Klitschko up.

The 36-year-old seemed to be in his comfort zone and continued to land the right hand at will in the fourth.

But in the fifth, the challenger
brought the crowd to its feet with an overhand right that sent Klitschko
into the ropes, although the Ukrainian showed his superior experience
by covering up and avoiding any further damage as Wach sloppily went in
for the kill.

But Klitschko, who has not been beaten
in eight years since being stopped by Lamon Brewster in 2004, did not
seem to be affected at the start of the sixth and landed a straight
right that temporarily stunned Wach.

Scare: Klitschko survived a huge right hand in the fifth round

Rocky Actor Sylvester Stallone was in Hamburg to watch the bout

The punishment continued in the
seventh and Klitschko looked to stop the fight with perhaps only the
bell preventing the champion from doing so, with Wach sent into the
ropes after yet another right hand.

Wach's lack of defence seemed to prove
his undoing and he came in for severe punishment in the eighth before
Klitschko settled into a rhythm in the ninth.

By the 10th Wach had marks over his
eyes and nose and his lack of head movement was giving Klitschko all the
encouragement he needed.

Wach did land another rare right in the 11th that opened up a cut on Klitschko's left eye but the champion closed strongly.

The unbeaten Wach will be the first opponent Klitschko has faced who is taller than he is, despite the 36-year-old Ukrainian's height of 1.98 meters (6ft 6ins). Wach is a formidable 2.02 meters (6 ft 7ins) tall and the two-time Polish champion also has a longer reach.

Klitschko goes into his 22nd world championship fight with a 58-3 (51 KOs) record, while Wach has won 27 bouts, 15 by knockout, since turning pro in 2005.

Tall order: Klitschko (left) faces a bigger opponent for the first time

Wladimir Klitschko (top) and Mariusz Wach

It will be Klitschko's first bout since his longtime coach, Emanuel Steward, died last month, and his third defense this year after knockout wins over Jean-Marc Mormeck of France in March and American challenger Tony Thompson in July.

Actor and director Sylvester Stallone, famous from his role in the Rocky series of films, will attend the bout, part of the promotional campaign for the Rocky musical.

Klitschko and his older brother Vitali, together with Stallone, had a hand in the production of 'Rocky: Fight from the Heart,' which opens in Hamburg on November 18.